The balance of the deaths of the accident in the Funicular de Gloria in Lisbon has increased this Thursday to 17, after two of the injured initially transferred to the hospital ended up losing their lives, according to a new balance released by Civil Protection. In addition, it is pointed out as the first hypothesis of the cause of the accident to a breakage of the cable on which this type of transport depends.
The institution has also updated the number of injured, which has encrypted in 20, according to the RTP chain. Two Spaniards appear on this wounded list, although sources from exterior sources have confirmed that they have already received the discharge.
The funicular crashed into a building and was completely destroyed, next to the Avenida de la Libertad in the capital of Portugal. On the ground, the EFE agency has been able to verify that the funicular overturned and its roof was completely crushed.
The Portuguese government has declared a day of mourning throughout the country as a sign of mourning for this incident, whose causes are still examined. The accident took place minutes after 6:00 p.m. (local time, 7.00 Spanish peninsular time), due to a cable that was loose.
The Prosecutor’s Office has already opened an investigation and The Lisbon City Council has temporarily paralyzed other similar systems For performing technical inspections by caution. The Public Ministry is already carrying out the necessary proceedings, within the scope of its powers: for the purposes of preservation of evidence, with the orientation and in coordination with the departments of the Criminal Police. “
The company responsible for the management of the Gloria elevator, Carris, has assured that all the funicular maintenance protocols have been carried out and fulfilled. The general maintenance, which is carried out every four years, took place for the last time in 2022, and the provisional repairs, which are made every two, last year, in 2024.
The area in which the accident occurred is usually busy by tourists, “we were going to get on the funicular, we were at the top, in the viewpoint, we decided to take a walk and go down the street next door. When we arrived at the scene to go up, we saw the accident,” two Brazilian tourists explained in statements collected by the EFE agency.
